Press Commentary

“Seven songs written by her and her co-composer, three James Bond titles, a few jazz standards and Conchita Wurst’s winning song at the ESC exactly ten years ago – the range of Jasmin Bayer’s new album is huge. And the Munich-based singer can sing it all wonderfully with her warm, expressive voice that works with many nuances. And she is always well supported by her excellent band around pianist Davide Roberts. The result is a 74-minute album that combines jazz with pop appeal and successful arrangements. Feel-good music in a wide variety of colors and moods that entertains from the first to the last track.”–www.virgin-jazz-face.de, www.nrwjazz.net, November 2024, Christoph Giese about the CD POETIC LICENSE

“Most of the pieces are powerful, tell stories from milieus, dramatic, dynamic – but they are deeply touching. Despite all the harshness and experience of life, Jasmin Bayer is also able to convey to us vocally how fragile the human interior ultimately is.
It is an exciting mixture of fourteen tracks that Munich jazz singer Jasmin Bayer has produced with her band on her fourth album “Poetic License”, an all-American album.
She has the poetic license, or in other words, the license to write poetry – unlike Ian Flemming’s “James Bond” – precisely because she performs three famous theme songs from the films: Goldeneye (1995), Moonraker (1979) and Thunderball (1965). She pays homage not only to the composers and lyricists such as Bono and The Edge, Don Black, Hal David and John Barry, and the performers, but also to the three actors who once portrayed Bond: Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan.
Jasmin Bayer’s interpretations are well worth listening to; over the many years she has shaped her voice and her volume to become ever finer and more versatile. Articulation, colorfulness, expression, as well as the powerful and the breathy voice demonstrate her potential.
This applies no less to the seven original compositions that she created together with Davide Roberts. Classics such as “Strangers In The Night”, composed by Bert Kaempfert in the mid-1960s, and “Embraceable You” from 1930, written by George Gershwin, are also included.
The emotional music and mostly wonderful lyrics encircle the cosmos of Jasmin Bayer, the nocturnal hours that one associates with this music, whether alone or in company, whether in the spotlight or in the semi-darkness. Jazz touches everything – sometimes subliminally, sometimes obviously. She can rely on her musicians, you can hear that in the arrangements.
That’s why rhythm determines the new, American-influenced album, from breathless to lively and quietly contemplative. She uses small pauses to create mood and accents. She sings here and there in the Southern manner, with a little tremolo, slurred syllables and drawn-out notes. And the instruments follow her in a good mood, like at Mardi Gras. “Poetic Licence” is a lively work with a lasting feel-good factor.”–www.kultur-port.de, October 2024, Prof. Claus Friede about the CD POETIC LICENSE

“…This also applies to Jasmin Bayer, although the classical struggle for survival does not necessarily determine her continuous daily routine. But all these components of jazz singing can be found in her music, sometimes in stronger nuances, sometimes in a more casual manner. Above all, she is fully aware of these roots.
On “Poetic License”, Jasmin Bayer brings together the different starting points of the songs and their different moods in a nuanced way. Despite the interpretative dynamics, the spectrum ranges from driving, spirited songwriting to poetic ballads the balance that the album radiates as a whole and holds wonderfully together is striking. It is Jazz, with a slight pop appeal, whose melodies immediately catch the ear and whose rhythms aim for the legs. Jasmin Bayer holds these cornerstones and starting points vocally together, giving them a very individual reference – without any exalted affectations.
Jasmin Bayer’s band acts with restraint. It gives her support and inspiration, accompanies her with empathy and creates musically binding moods. With Munich trumpeter Florian Brandl, the quartet has an exceptional soloist whose playing weaves around the songs like additional vocal lines, acting with both emotion and serenity.”–www.kultkomplott.de, October 2024, Jörg Konrad about the CD POETIC LICENSE

“Jasmin Bayer‘s slightly smoky alto voice gave the songs an authentic, slender touch and saved it from being kitschy, quite the opposite of the Christmas market tooting. The tasteful, jazzy arrangements by Davide Roberts contributed to that positive effect. He, as well as the band came up with playing joyfully, witty, sometimes with Swing as gentle as a feather, sometimes with a powerful groove. (…) A spirited, optimistic concert to get in the right mood for advent. (…)” — Donauwörther Zeitung, November 2022, Tobias Böcker about the concert „Jazz in Rain“ Jasmin Bayer Quintet in Kurfürtliches Schloss Rain

“The trumpeter Till Brönner, as well as the singer Jasmin Bayer demonstrate how “Christmas Jazz” is done with sophistication.” — www.nrw.jazz.net Magazin, December 2021, on the album MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY published 2021

“(…) With a remarkable, quite variable voice and a great sense of rhythm (…) Amazing for example, how she takes the lead in “Sleigh Ride” and sets herself in front of her whirling band(…) An album, that may replace the constant radio loops until Christmas.” — Süddeutsche Zeitung, November 2021, Oliver Hochkeppel

“On top, in addition, imbedded Jasmin Bayer‘s wonderful voice. Clear on one hand, cool, easy, colourful with a touch of Soul, Jazz in the core. Her feeling as well as her creative power in her much applauded Samba, in famous James-Bond-Songs, absolutely thrilling in „Rise Like A Phoenix“, winning title at the Grand Prix 2014. One would have longed to listen to more of such a voice, rich in nuances, downright relaxed in her phrasing, a multitude of colors supping from a horn of plenty, con passione bringing to bloom. Through her performance the Sonthofer Kultur-Werkstatt turned once more into a temple of Jazz. Through musicians of a class of their own. Inspirational elegance. With a true Jazz-Lady.” — Allgäuer Zeitung, February 2023, Christoph Pfister about the concert at Sonthofer Kulturwerkstatt 02/04/2023

“The four gentlemen and their artistic quality only rounded off what Jasmin Bayer showed with her voice. The voice set, deliberately soft and immaculate in her breathing technique: With that Jasmin Bayer gave her originals that special individual character and colour. Her versatile facial expressions and gestures were the dot on the “i.” Those 90 minutes on Friday with their different nuances deserve further performances at one of the future Jazz weekends.”– Mittelbayerische Zeitung, October 2021, Lothar Röhrl about the Concert at the 15th Neumarkter Jazzweekend 10/17/2021

“Longing for love at Marstall: Jazz singer Jasmin Bayer and Band process sophisticatingly interpersonal experiences and fascinate their audience. (…) Stories written by life, Jasmin Bayer lends a powerful singing voice (…) German Jazz singer, composer and lyricist Jasmin Bayer (…) with “The Green Unicorn” thrills her audience (…) Jasmin Bayer‘s expressive voice succeeds with every note (…) The singer stays always true to herself, combines skillfully Swing and Blues elements, entices the audience to bob along. Her sovereign and melodic phrasing of the James-Bond-Song “Skyfall” from Adele works out very well. Here her voice changes into that of a dynamic soul singer, enhances the dramatic nature of her singing. The musicians at their instruments prove: There is no need of a big orchestra, the film score works out just fine on a small scale…they deliver fantastic solo improvisations (…).”– Starkenburger Echo, September 2021, Meike Paul about the Concert at Forum Kultur Heppenheim 09/22/2021

“The versatile singer managed to get a hold of the audiences attention in no time with her informative and emotional presentation as well as through her versatile voice.” — Passauer Neue Presse, October 2019, Uli Brunnlechner about the Jazz Matinée at Stadtkino Trostberg

“(…) Jasmin Bayer & Band started their first concert at the Sonthofer Kulturwerkstatt with this wonderful swinging title “Come Share This Minute”, an original. The audience was fascinated that they would love sharing their time and the evening listening to the music. All the originals of Jasmin Bayer & Band made that night a night to remember with all of the soli of Davide Roberts p, Markus Wagner b, Christos Asonitis dr and Florian Brandl tp/flh (…)” — Allgäuer Anzeigeblatt, September 2019, Marion Bässler

“(…)Traunreut. A selected cirle of jazz interested listeners were granted a special musical pleasure in the k1 studio. Five musicians were on stage who had more than pleasure to play music together but who drew their energy flow from the positive reactions of the listeners. When the attractive lady in her floral dress increased her vocal the next  pleasant surprise followed: with a wam timbre and with vocal elegance she presented sonorously jazzy-balladesque sensuality. Well known jazz and ballads standards went hand in hand with her well succeeded own profound compositions which also refers to the lyrics introduced by Bayer in short sentences. This way listening is fun.(…)“ — Passauer Neue Presse, February 2019, Kirsten Benekam

“(…) Jasmin Bayer’s versatile voice displayed the exuberant joy of life as well as melancholy and real mourning. She sang the James Bond title song “Skyfall” in its typical dramatic way and with that certain twinkle in her voice she performed “The Green Unicorn”. Her congenial companion, Davide Roberts, performed with his temperamental and explosive musical enthusiasm in his solo parts, to take back with fine sparkling piano playing and precisely set counterpoints. A positive surprise was the extremely attentive, finely tuned trumpet played by Florian Brandl. Markus Wagner on bass as well as Christos Asonitis on drums showed their fine improvisational mastery. The audience appreciated that with ripples of spontaneous applause and a rapturous final applause that wouldn’t stop.” — Passauer Neue Presse, February 2018, Uli Brunnlechner about the concert in Stadtkino Trostberg

“Jasmin Bayer’s supple, engaging voice comes into its own on THE GREEN UNICORN perfectly well in both tender, touching ballads like Pale side of the Moon or in more robust, rhythmically emphasized titles like Pimp me up or The Green Unicorn itself. She knows how to captivate her audience in very different ways which might be at the basis of her steadily rising success. On her new CD Jasmin works with her meanwhile brilliantly experienced trio which is further supported by two extraordinary soloists, the French baritone saxophonist Céline Bonacina and the formidable trumpeter Axel Schlosser who takes care of the solos in the Radio Big Band HR, Frankfurt and is also involved with great projects (Mozart Reloaded) and concerts with the Frankfurt Brass Band and avantgarde musicians like Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Olav Poltziehn.“ — Matthias Winckelmann, enja Records

“(…) A woman re-invents herself. (…) No doubt: she succeeds. Jasmin Bayer crosses over every second authentically in this fine, well established club. She knows how to carry with her and her blending of elegance, grace, passion and dedication plus the songs between jazz standards and  familiar pop themes puts a smile on the faces of her audience. Especially in quiet, intimate passages like Unforgettable when her flexible, punchy combo takes it easier and she just lets herself go into the emotionality of the few notes this late starter has her strongest moments. Her anguish, the melancholy but also the exuberant joy is accepted every second. Her voice convinces with a warm sound roughened by little harder peaks, always variably expressed – inevitably derived from her content and flow.” — Augsburger Allgemeine, March 2018, Reinhard Köchl about Jasmin Bayer’s performance at the jazz club Birdland, Neuburg

“The Green Unicorn is a step to the next level for Jasmin Bayer. She no longer relies on existing repertoire, but together with Davide Roberts composes original songs which shape the program of the album. These are also about love and day-to day life, the small and the great escapes, but they are now her own  and not those of others. Jasmin Bayer builds a new foundation here, to build her vocal expressivity on and to reference classics such as John  Barry or also Elvis Presley. Moreover, guest musicians help her to perfect the concept of the album. On the one hand the French baritone saxophone player Cèline Bonacina contributes powerful lines and improvisation, and on the other trumpeter Axel Schlosser  demonstrates that he is a master of melodic phrasing and elegant soloing. The Green Unicorn results in a self-aware, confident statement of an artist who has found her second calling, with Soul, Swing and a touch of the Blues.“ — Ralf Dombrowski

“Here it is, Jasmin Bayer`s second album, in the shape of a Green Unicorn. The cover promises a girlish, cute toy, that you do not want to let go right away and which maybe transports you into another enchanted world of fairies and other beings. The same eponymous piece (No. 4 and written by Jasmin Bayer and Davide Roberts) promises finally a unicorn that twinkles and gives a new luster until even the eyes smile. Jasmin Bayer sticks to her skills and her path: the album is characterized by jazz and blues is versatile, charming, partly elegant – partly playful and most of all authentic as now original compositions are predominant which are an effective double play of Bayer – Roberts creating a room  equally for liberty and order. The range of  the vocal qualities contextually bonded should be mentioned and gives depth. The additions of French Céline Bonacina`s baritone saxophone and the fluegelhorn/trumpet of Axel Schlosser are true enrichments and do well for the overall picture. Jasmin Bayer acts with plenty of comittment and persuasiveness, everything is trustworthy and artistically convincingly resolved.“ — Claus Friede

“Jasmin Bayer is a discovery. Her jazz concerts show a talented and experienced singer with her own repertory as well as standards, an immaculate warm intonation, a charismatic stage presence. This is her first album that might be a surprise for many. Her CD is very different to the often heard US Songbooks, very individual, for Jasmin writes the majority of her repertory herself and composes together with her pianist Davide Roberts.” — Matthias Winckelmann, enja Records

“(…) Everybody in the club will be thrilled and swept away by this album with finest swing and finest Straight-ahead Jazz.” — KulturNews

“(…) Bayer knows every trick in the book: she has an immaculate pronunciation and articulation, great feeling for rhythm, her voice can be sensual and affectionate as well as full of sarcasm.” — KulturNews

“”Straight-ahead Jazz” is the perfect description of Jasmin Bayer’s debut album “Summer Melodies”. Musicologist Ekkehard Jost could have taken her musical cosmos as the perfect example for his “Sozialgeschichte des Jazz in den USA”!” — KulturPort

“Straight-ahead Jazz, perfectly concocted by the former actress and singer Jasmin Bayer.” — SpiegelOnline

“Jasmin Bayer has a wonderful voice (…) Rising star in the jazz scene (…)” — Süddeutsche Zeitung

“A master of Jazz ballads.” — Augsburger Allgemeine

“(…) With singer, composer, and lyricist Jasmin Bayer from Munich were introduced to a new, exciting Jazz voice. “Summer Melodies” is her first album and full of brilliance (…)” — Jazz Thing, April/May 2017, Christoph Giese

“Jasmin Bayer is rooted in tradition of great vocalists without imitating them – with her voice refined in all nuances and the rhythmically relaxed phrasing!” — Kultkomplott, 2016

“There was a phase in the history of jazz in the 1950s and 1960s that combined elements of Swing, Modern Jazz and Latin to a classical art form. Stars like Billie Holiday, Lester Young or Chet Baker belonged to that era. Singer Jasmin Bayer together with Pianist Davide Roberts composed jazz songs out of that spirit. (…) Right away the audience was introduced to that mood and feeling of being in a New York jazz bar, for Jasmin Bayer sang with the “black” timbre and her four musicians didn’t spare with Swing and Blue Notes (…)” — OVB, June 2017, Richard Prechtl about the concert at Le Pirate, Rosenheim

“(…) Her program “Summer Melodies”, corresponding with the current album by enja Records, the temperamental singer with the strong vibrato offered light but never shallow entertainment. The songs, often with a Latin touch and full of esprit, especially with the virtuous, brilliant soli of pianist Davide Roberts and trumpeter Peter Tuscher put the audience in the enjoyable mood for prolonged applause.” — Mittelbayerische Zeitung, Michael Scheiner about the concert at 36. Bayerisches Jazzweekend, Regensburg